Posted on 10/05/2002 9:15:25 AM PDT by COB1
Our friend, Herb Meadows, AKA CHIEF Negotiator, died in a house fire on October 4, of last year.
IT'S BEEN A YEAR, AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS DEATH!
THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
Folks, I know the wheels of justice turn slowly, but sometimes they get stuck!
Let's get those wheels turning again!
I'm asking for an all out freep by e-mail and telephone to find out why he died and how he died!
Let's don't let the bureaucrats push this under the rug!
The name is Herbert Paul Meadows.
The date of birth is 08-28-48.
The case number is 011612-F.
Below is a list of e-mail addresses and telephone numbers of people we need to contact:
HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT ARSON DIVISION - 713-865-9000.
Chief Kent of Arson Investigations - 713-551-2239.
Leo Gonzales - Detective - Arson Div. - 713-865-9055.
leocadio.gonzales@cityofhouston.net
Tyrone Freeman - Detective - Arson Div. - 713-551-2214.
tyrone.freeman@cityofhouston.net
Houston Police Department - 713-222-3131
Complaints Department - HPD - 713-308-0040
Citizen's Review Committee - HPD - 713-308-8939
Harris County Sheriff's Department - Detectives - 713-967-5810
District Attorney for Harris County - Charles Rosenthal - da@dao.co.harris.tx.us
MEDIA:
Houston Chronicle - hc@chron.com
Houston Press - feedback@houston-press.com
Texas Triangle - TXTRIANGLE@AOL.COM
Mix96 Radio:
Program Director
Larry and Bridget
Lori Bradley
Mayor Lee Brown - mayor@cityofhouston.net
Houston City Council:
Anise Parker - annise.parker@cityofhouston.net
Gordon Quan - atlarge2@cityofhouston.net
Shelly Sekula-Gibbs - atlarge3@cityofhouston.net
Michael Berry - atlarge4@cityofhouston.net
Carroll G. Robinson - atlarge5@cityofhouston.net
Bruce Tatro - bruce.tatro@cityofhouston.net
Carol Mims Galloway - districtb@cityofhouston.net
Mark Goldberg - districtc@cityofhouston.net
Ada Edwards - districtd@cityofhouston.net
Addie Wiseman - districte@cityofhouston.net
Mark Ellis - districtf@cityofhouston.net
Bert Keller - districtg@cityofhouston.net
Gabriel Vasquez - districth@cityofhouston.net
Carol Alvarado - districti@cityofhouston.net
LET'S ROLL !
According to the Chief of Arson Investigators, this case is still open and under investigation.
It's inconceivable to me that if it's a simple case of accidental death that the case would still be under investigation.
It appears that there are some power plays involved that we know nothing about.
I know there is intense rivalry between the HPD and the Arson Division, but I don't know if this is a contributing factor.
The HPD does not get involved in cases handled by the Arson Division unless they are specifically asked to do so.
Since both departments are in competition for the same funds, that automatically makes them rivals.
In other words, a piss poor way to run any investigation!
If it means putting more manpower toward solving it, then do it!
If there are some power people who don't want this thing solved, then I want to know who they are!
If this involves police corruption or incompetence, then let's air it out!
We are being sandbagged, and it's time for that to stop!
Thanks, Humid!
I don't worry about that spotlight as much as I do that little red laser dot on my chest!
LOL!
Cob, don't rely on just the City of Houston. Have you written to these folks, registered letter, return receipt requested? Suspected arson by the homeowner's carrier's claims adjuster is referred here for investigation. An arson report is a public document. It's worth a letter. Refer to the arson case file #, date of incident, address, insurance company, named insureds: Mrs. Chief, Alwayswatching - IIRC.
Explain that as a close, long-time friend of Herb Meadows, you are requesting a status report; that you have been unable to obtain any information from Houston Arson Division since the first report was issued on ________. Include a copy of it along with your letter. Ask them to inform you of any fee required to obtain status report. Make a couple of copies of your letter in case you have to write the state's atty general down the road. You'll be able to demonstrate to that office of the effort you've made, prior to writing him.
You might preface all of the above by writing to the arson investigators, and that chief with registered letters, return receipt requested. It leaves a deeper impression than just a phone call or email, imo. Plus you'll have all that 'pending' crap in writing, when they respond. That might raise their eyebrows a notch or two. If they *don't* respond, you can demonstrate that to the atty gen down the road, too, with copies of *those* letters.
South Carolina bump in the road to resolving this.
Yep, and how appropriate that October 7th last year was the day the bombing began in Kabul, Afghanistan. This October 7th, Houston officials will know how that feels! 
Thanks for posting this COB........
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy. 
I'll go ahead and send a letter to the insurance company with the information which I do have and hope for the best.
The idea about the letter to the Arson Investigators and the Chief is great!
For some reason, I never thought about sending them a registered letter.
Your advice is invaluable, dear friend.
Thank you.
Here's hoping the squeaky wheel gets greased.
Your letter doesn't go to their insurance company. (State Farm wasn't it?) It goes to the Texas Dept of Ins., in Austin, I guess. I didn't search for an address. I'm sure they can find it in their computer with the information you reference without a policy or claim #.
One thing I forgot: when you write any registered letter, after your reference lines
(Re: Houston Arson Division Ref #:________
Date of Incident:_________
Address:_________
Named Insured:__________
Insurance Co.:____________)
and a couple of lines above Dear _______, type in "Registered - Return Receipt Requested." That way, if you *do* have to forward copies of your unanswered letters in the future, the atty gen's office will see that you sent a letter that had to be *signed* for, and it was *ignored*. Letters that have to be signed for usually get answered, whereas letters which don't have to be signed for can "get lost in the mail." *Registered* letters don't usually get ignored.
Omit the "insurance company and named insured" in letters to the chief and arson investigators and replace it with "Name of Deceased:__________
I *sincerely* hope something comes of if for you, Cob; you've *earned* it...
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